Walsall

Walsall's population grew between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure, marriage and health.

The population reached nearly 270,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Walsall increased by 6.2%, from just over 253,000 to 269,000.

The addition of just under 16,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Walsall was home to, on average, 18 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Walsall

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Walsall increased by two years, from 37 to 39 years.

This multi-cultural area had a slightly higher average age than the West Midlands and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 6,400 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 5,000.

About 14% of people in Walsall are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Walsall by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

Walsall saw England's third-largest rise in the proportion of unemployed people.

In 2011, just over 1 in 15 (6.8%) people aged 16 to 74 in Walsall said they were unemployed, compared with 4.4% in 2001. The percentage that were employed decreased from 51% to 49%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of unemployed people occurred in Barking and Dagenham (from 4.5% to 7.3%) followed by Wolverhampton (from 5.3% to 7.9%).

The rate of unemployment in Walsall increased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Walsall, the West Midlands and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Walsall

The percentage of Walsall residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.9% to 6.3% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 20 (5.1%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 4.2% in 2001. The percentage of Walsall residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.1% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Walsall that rented privately increased from 4.9% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in four (24%) households lived in social housing, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage of Walsall households that owned their home decreased from 64% to 62%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 14% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Walsall increased by 6.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Walsall, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The percentage of adults in Walsall that were married decreased from 54% to 48% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in three (33%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Walsall that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.6% to 11%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 52% in 2001 to 48% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 51% to 47%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Walsall residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11% to 7.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 65% in 2001. The percentage of Walsall residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Walsall decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Walsall, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Walsall working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 12% to 8.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 13% in 2001 to 9.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Walsall decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Walsall, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Walsall, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.9% to 10% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29%) households had only one person, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage of households in Walsall which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 39% to 33%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.9% in 2001 to 9.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Walsall increased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Walsall, the West Midlands and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Walsall residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.7% to 3.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 50 (1.8%) reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.5% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 2.3% in 2001 to 2.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Walsall remained close to 3.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Walsall by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Families in Walsall

The percentage of households with children changed very little in Walsall, while the proportion fell in Cannock Chase (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Walsall).

In Walsall, the proportion of households with children stayed close to 32% between the last two censuses. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Cannock Chase decreased from 33% to 31%.

Across the West Midlands, the share of households with children decreased from 31% to 30%.

The proportion of households without children in Walsall remained close to 56%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 12%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

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